Lindsey Graham to President Obama: Time to ‘step it up’

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Demonstrators take part in a rally in front of the Department of Homeland Security Jan. 26, 2010.
Reuters

“I think moderate Democrats have to come on board before you get Republicans, and Republicans have to come on board before you get Democrats,” said Graham.

At the moment, only a few brave congressional souls have walked the reform gangplank. With health care blanketing the capital like a horror-movie fog, and jobs, climate change and budget bills next in line for consideration, the chances of passing a politically risky immigration reform bill are somewhere between nil and exceptionally remote.

The hope, instead, is to build a consensus around a measure that could pass sometime in the not too distant, non-election-year future.

While many Democrats publicly embrace comprehensive reform, most are privately rooting for inertia rather than tying themselves to any proposal that could be used against them in the midterms.

The tough part for Obama, however, is that the Obama-Graham-Schumer summit is also being closely watched by Hispanic groups, who are demanding proof of action as a reward for their overwhelming support of Obama in 2008.

With a massive March 21 pro-immigration reform rally planned for Washington, and Latinos the fastest-growing segment of the electorate, Obama can ill afford to alienate them.

“For the Latino community in this country, it’s the civil rights issue of their time, so delay obviously adds to disillusionment,” said Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), a Cuban-American who has urged the administration to move more quickly.

Immigration reform, he added, “would seal the community’s commitment to the Democratic Party.”

That opinion is shared by a collection of Hispanic groups, who have pressured the White House in forceful terms, threatening to withdraw support if Obama doesn’t follow through on his commitment.

But the appetite for a huge new push in immigration is as weak as it has been in years, with moderates like Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) — ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee — saying it’s not even on her radar.

“I’m not even thinking about it,” she said.

And Graham’s friend McCain, now facing a tough primary challenge from anti-immigration-reform conservative J.D. Hayworth, said he hasn’t even spoken with Graham about supporting the latest proposal.

And he offered low marks for Obama’s immigration reform efforts since taking office: “I don’t know what he’s done, so I don’t know how to comment on his performance,” McCain said of his 2008 opponent, adding that any attempt at reform would be “very, very difficult in this environment.”

Readers' Comments (277)

“The president’s commitment to fixing our broken system remains unwavering,” Shapiro said. “Earlier, the president told members of both parties that if they can fashion a plan to deal with these problems, he is eager to work with them to get it done, and he has assigned [Homeland Security] Secretary [Janet] Napolitano to work with stakeholders on that effort.”

Shapiro went on to reiterate Obama’s core principles — not prescriptions — including resolving “the status of 12 million people who are here illegally.”

This issue is fairly simple compared to healthcare reform.

All illegal aliens should be deported in a well coordinated effort. Then they may apply for admission to the US legally and get to the end of the line. Ths shouldn't be so difficult. We have laws in place allowing us to do so.

Deportation

Deportation refers to the official removal of an alien from the United States. The U.S. government can initiate deportation proceedings against aliens admitted under the INA that commit an aggravated felony within the United States after being admitted. An alien's failure to register a change of address renders the alien deportable, unless the failure resulted from an excusable circumstance or mistake. If the government determines that a particular alien gained entry into the country through the use of a falsified document or otherwise fraudulent means, the government has the grounds to deport.

Other common grounds for deportation include the following: aiding or encouraging another alien to enter the country illegally; engaging in marriage fraud to gain U.S. admission; participating in an activity that threatens the U.S.'s national security; voting unlawfully; and failing to update the government with a residential address every three months, regardless of whether the address has changed. The last of these policies served as the grounds for the government to deport 2,000 Pakistanis following the September 11th attacks.

If the government brings a proceeding for deportation because of fraud or falsification, the government bears the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that alleged falsification or fraud occurred and that the falsification or fraud proved material to the granting of admission to the alien. Upon such a proof, the government has established a rebuttable presumption that the alien gained admission through material falsification or fraud. To rebut the presumption, the alien must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that admission would have been granted even without the falsification or fraud.

“At the end of the day, the president needs to step it up a little bit,” Graham told POLITICO on Tuesday. “One line in the State of the Union is not going to do it.”

Obama and his gang has already made their intentions clear.

U.S. Citizenship For Illegal Immigrants By Early 2010 Written by JudicialWatch.org Tuesday, 17 November 2009 05:3

In a few months President Obama will push legislation to legalize the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants, according to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who assures her boss's jam-packed agenda won't delay his campaign promise to the influential La Raza movement.

Hey join the fun I say.. they will have to denounce thier citizenship and birth place.. then .. when they want to bail thier, country will reject them..They will grab what money they shipped over to the other countries.. then they will truely feel American.. so Illegals.. want to pay taxes.. want to have your money taken from you so you can support others.. by all means Coe on down...

It will be the biggest mistake if the illeagal think they are going to get the free stuff when they become citizen...as for 12 million new voters .. That will ensure more independents in all primaries...That what we need more peopel to cause more confusion.. that will show us.. But by all means.. Come on down.. become Ameriacans...You will regrett it eventually.....

The Politicians stand up for all the poor little so called innocent illegal aliens , but never talk of the body count of Americans being killed by illegal aliens. azghostlink.bravehost.com/link.html

Real time immigration numbers

We all want a better life for our children, does this give us the right to go against the law for the betterment of our children? Or is the right to thwart the law reserved only for illegal alien parents and their children from Mexico and elsewhere?

The three players in this article: Graham, Schumer & Obama don't get it, don't care and don't want to stay in their elected office.

The democrats are never going to sign on to a national ID. The American people are never going to agree on amnesty until the borders are secure and the country cleared of illegals. What a waste of time this is.

And Graham’s friend McCain, now facing a tough primary challenge from anti-immigration-reform conservative J.D. Hayworth, said he hasn’t even spoken with Graham about supporting the latest proposal.

And he offered low marks for Obama’s immigration reform efforts since taking office: “I don’t know what he’s done, so I don’t know how to comment on his performance,” McCain said of his 2008 opponent, adding that any attempt at reform would be “very, very difficult in this environment.”

The coming enema that Congress is facing this November will be insured if this issue hits the front burner. And your past record with Bush on this will have you working 24x7 putting out the fires outrage. If you let this get away it's going to be a 'Long Hot Summer'.

Obama has not kept any, not one of his Campaign pledges he used to get elected. He is all through after this term. Did we get a Public Option ? No. Is Guantanamo closed ? No. Are Gays serving openly in the Military ? No, Is there immigration reform ? No. Did he end the war? No. He lied to the American people. Now he will pay the price. The Democrats will face their waterloo in November. Just what have they done ? Bailed out the banks, Bailed out Wall Street and left us the American people, Generations in debt and continue to pile more on us. Remember pay go ? The first bill they passed after that was passed was done on more borrowed money. Now the New Unemployment extension that just cleared the Senate $150 billion is again NOT paid for. How much longer can this go on ?

Obama has not kept any, not one of his Campaign pledges he used to get elected. He is all through after this term. Did we get a Public Option ? No. Is Guantanamo closed ? No. Are Gays serving openly in the Military ? No, Is there immigration reform ? No. He lied to the American people. Now he will pay the price. The Democrats will face their waterloo in November.

You are right for all the wrong reasons. Americans don't want a public option, do not want Guantanamo closed, don't care about don't ask, and want illegals to stay out of America. November will be crushing for the Democrats because Obama has his little hands tied to a socialist agenda.

I can live with a path to legal status...but I draw the line at citizenship. We ALREADY HAVE a process for becoming a U.S. citizen. Let them get in the back of that line.

I don't want mass deportations. Here's what I do want:

1) secure borders...without all the political correctness

2) A serious approach to document fraud. E-verify is a start. But violators must be deported immediately. Strong law enforcement can solve this. But they have to show they mean it.

3) Immediate deportation of criminals...after they serve their sentence in the case of violent crimes.

4) This is a tough one because it involves attitudes. We have to go back to an assimilation culture, the melting pot. About 20 years ago, we revised immigration quotas to include more immigrants from non-Western countries. Many now come from a culture where there is little respect for the law. (think "Slumdog Millionaire"). We let in violent gangs, the Russian mob, Chinese businessmen plying illegal political contributions, etc. There are the Nigerian "bankers" and the Medicare fraudsters who've created an entire industry out of storefront businesses that change their address every 3 months. They all come from a culture where anything goes, with little or no empathy for the victims they scam ( or worse).

We don't require them to learn the language. We set up special studies departments in our universities for their "culture". We provide paid public holidays such as Cinco de Mayo.

Some will call me a racist. It's not that I don't respect their culture. But, what about them respecting OURS?!

Yee...it's time to bring out the "I" word. This administration needs to go NOW. They have jack-legged everything they have touched. Barry has taken the POTUS position to a new low. He's still campaigning like he never got elected. They can't make any logical decisions. These guys are about as dysfunctional as I've ever witnessed. I can truly say I've had enough - already.

It's time to get the broom out and sweep this nasty mess out of Washington. America's best interest is not being served by these clowns.

As far as Lindsey goes, the SC voters will have a message waiting him when he's up for re-election. The SC Tea Party is a very strong group and they have a Lindsey on their radar screen. I will say that Lindsey is TOAST.

Between Obamacare, Cap & Tax. TARP, bailouts and now illegals getting citizenship...makes into a nice Powder Keg ready to explode. The American people are sitting on the edge and they will not allow this mess to take place. Nov will only be the beginning. We need adults sitting in the House, Senate and POTUS. None of this "we must pass the bill first before we know what's in it " stuff. We've got to be the laughing stock of the World.

What we're witnessing now "ON THE PROCESS" is as weird as it can get. Do you not agree?

Sen. Lindsey Graham knows that Republicans cannot and will not be able to win Federal elections without the help of minority voters. The GOP has totally alienated minority voters in the past 24 months and the polls show an overwhelming majority of minority voters have shifted to more progressive and liberal politicians.

"To the frustration of many reform advocates, Obama has kept his opinions of the possible deal vague, giving a head nod to reform in his State of the Union speech but not much more"

The pattern is clear. Obama will sit opn the sidelines while the most radical elements of the left wing write the bill, then he will try and defend that bill and the bill will linger for months. Meanwhile the more centrist elements of both parties are demonized.